- May 29, 2015
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I just got told recently about GG being up to the umpire's discretion in college. That has to be the absolute dumbest thing I ever heard of. I didn't believe it. Then someone sent it to me in print.
Gorilla Gold used to post on their website all the organizations and alphabet soups (USA, PGF, NSA, ISC, USSSA, etc) that allow GG to be used. I'm pretty sure ASA/USA has it in their rulebook, or they did at one point.
I've wondered about why GG was legal but rock rosin was still illegal. Neither one discolor the ball. Pine Tar, firm grip, and other substances that aren't legal will turn the ball black when it's transferred from fingers. And it makes no sense to allow GG but not rock rosin.
I have told the story before about "knowing someone" who would cut open the powder rosin baggie, pour it out, dump rock rosin in the empty powder rosin bag, re-sew it and presto... nobody knew. Truth be told, none of the players would really care. Umpires seemed to care more than the players did.
It is no different than a list of bats that are legal. Just because my bat's name is on that list, doesn't mean my bat is legal.
The product itself is neither legal nor illegal ... the affect it has on the ball is what matters. That is why it is up to the umpire. The makes drying agents legal. Gorilla Gold is technically not a drying agent.
Of course Gorilla Gold is going to say things like that. They want to sell product. I think I am going to trust the person who actually puts out the rulebook over the person trying to sell me something.
It is very easy to tell the difference between rock resin and powder rosin. Or is that rock rosin and powder resin? Grammatically it is difficult, but the actual product is easy, even if you switch the bag.
I don't proclaim to be a chemist or a physicist ... I only know what I've been taught. It may all be bunk.
Maybe just rub a little jalapeno inside your nose ...